By now most Miami Dolphins fans have overdosed on Chad Ochocinco news and receiver talk, so how about we give you a few sidepieces of information coming from this week’s OTA session.

Before I feed you the latest on your Miami Dolphins, I have to get one thing off my chest about the team’s newest receiver.

I find it very disturbing how some athletes get portrayed. Because Ochocinco knows how to market himself he’s a diva?

Because he tried to force his way out of Cincinnati he’s a trouble maker? Well, is Carson Palmer a troublemaker because he SUCCESSFULLY forced his way out of Cincinnati?

Ochocinco’s never been arrested, doesn’t drink, is a family man who takes care of his kids, and there isn’t a single coach or fellow players who says bad things about him as a teammate.

But perception is reality….

Will depth issues force Jimmy Wilson back to cornerback?

Richard Marshall is sidelined by the left leg injury he suffered during the OTA session two weeks ago. It’s nothing too serious, and he should be healthy enough to participate in next week’s minicamp. But his injury issue, and Vontae Davis’ on again, off again status has yours truly mildly concerned about depth at cornerback.

If one of the top three cornerbacks go down are the Dolphins really comfortable with Nolan Carroll and Jonathan Wade? Or will Jimmy Wilson have to move back to cornerback?….

Brian Hartline’s absence from this week’s OTA session was excused, and it has NOTHING to do with his wake-boarding last weekend (you folks do know this is an OFFSEASON in the NFL, OTAs are VOLUNTARY, the veteran players were on a vacation hiatus last week, and players they are allowed to have a life outside of football?)

Hope you plan to work on your summer vacation?

According to sources, Hartline’s having a medical issue addressed but it has nothing to do with his leg or knee. I know what it is, but it is PRIVATE and I respect that. He should be fine, and cleared to participate in training camp when it opens in late July.

However, coach Joe Philbin did admit he hasn’t had enough of an opportunity to evaluate Hartline this offseason. Guess he’ll have to wait till training camp. But considering Hartline’s intelligent, and a very polished and savvy route runner, you’d think he should be fine ….

Artis Hicks is the man everyone on the right side of the offensive line should be scared of. Hicks is being cross trained to play every position on the right side, and based on what I’ve seen he’s pretty solid at them all. We’ll see if that trend continues when the pads come on.

At first his signing, and his $2 million salary, was a head scratcher. But when you watch Hicks play it makes more sense.

Can John Jerry get his weight under 320 pounds this offseason?

He’s presently working as the starting right guard, leapfrogging John Jerry, who is paired with rookie Jonathan Martin on the second team. Good approach for the Dolphins because they get to see Jerry and Martin work together as a unit, and Lydon Murtha and Artis Hicks work together…..

Got to give Ray Feinga props for apparently losing weight. Feinga entered camp listed at 337 pounds, and is SUPPOSEDLY the biggest O-lineman, but it is clear he’s trimmed some of his waste line. But the true heavyweight of the Dolphins offensive line is Jerry, and it is very disappointing how much he’s carrying.

Even coach Philbin has addressed some concern about his weight and conditioning, which was Jerry’s main issue during his disappointing showing in 2011’s training camp….

Jonathan Freeny, a Miami native and former Rutgers standout who was on the Dolphins’ training camp roster last year, showed why he got an invite back on Monday when he sacked Ryan Tannehill on back-to-back blitzes during an 11-on-11 series. That series of plays, which the Dolphins apparently repeated from an instructional standpoint (and still got the same result), got me curious about three things.

1. Tannehill’s speed of the game issues. If you know the blitz is coming why couldn’t he recognize it quick enough. Does he have recognition issues, or was it the receivers he was working with? I expect game speed issues from the rookie, but don’t make the same mistake twice, and back-to-back.

2. The left side of the second-team offensive line, which featured Nate Garner as the left tackle on Monday, needs work. Last year’s Philadelphia game made it VERY CLEAR Garner has no business playing left tackle in a game. He can play every other spot, but NOT LEFT TACKLE. So, who does play that spot if Jake Long goes down?

3. Is Freeny flashing some upside, and is it enough to land him a practice squad spot? I’m now watching him. He’s gone from my invisible stack of players to my I’m curious group.

Comments (260 Comments)

Markey-
If the same thing that happened to Big Ben with his stupidity and bathroom bar sex had happened to a black QB, you would be saying it’s being blown out of proportion and people are focusing on it too much b/c of race. Roethlisberger was lambasted by media, blacks, whites, asians, and etc, and justifiably so. 99.9% of fans don’t care about skin color, you apparently are one of the one’s who does.

I’ve known many blacks who were introverted, calm dudes, and I’ve know many whites who were boisterous loud mouths. Those blanket statements are just maddening. The whole, “You’ve never walked in my shoes” thing is tired. It can be said about any nationality of any race from any country in the world.

Omar — you have so much figured out by watching a few OTA practices without pads. It’s either you are a genius evaluator of the game or you know so little that you are willing to make such statements about the state of our franchise. Hmmmm. I’m going with “Not a genius”.

I appreciate what you said, and I’m not taking it personally. I already stated my case, and whether he believes it, or anyone else does or doesn’t, I know what I am in my heart. I just don’t like blanket statements period. Why make a blanket statement, when in reality, it may only cover 10% of the accused? That’s all I’m saying, and I feel silly for giving this topic as much air time as I have already.

Markey, and Mike E,
This is what I mean. Mike -if you try to understand the double standard that exist in sports and how the outspoken black athlete is looked at as an arrogant idiot when he usually is a model citizen while a Farve can be given a pass for most of his career etc…. and Markey -you need to try to understand how offensive it is for a Jewish guy that has been the victim of racism having a blanket statement (because they didn’t want a player) thrown at them is plain wrong.

Stanger,
The President’s color has opened the door for racist to be more vocal. Not since the civil rights movement has there been such a divide between white and black, right and left, rich and poor, and racist use the excuse that (we can’t be racist because we have a Black President) but that could not be further from the truth

Jay — I simply disagree. The leader of our country is a black man, elected for who he is, and not the color of his skin, by a majority of the country.

And if you claim that it hasn’t been that bad since the civil rights movement (which would mean the late 50’s to the 60’s), then maybe you don’t know how it was back then. We are talking separate water fountains and back of the bus.

But what I am saying about the Black vote was it was more “BIAS” than racist. They wanted to vote for the First Black President… But if it were say Michael Steele who was runninhg he would not have recieved 90% of the black vote.

Stanger,
I always try to understand why a person views a situation as he does. I think you are very young and really believe what you post. I am 45 and have been outspoken in race relations all my life, I can not call your life experience wrong but your views are naive

Jay — I was at a wedding of a friend after Obama got the nomination. I was pretty much a grain of salt in the pepper shaker. They put up like a 30 minute vid on Obama at the reception. They were so proud and rightly so.

They saw it as a jump, as something to be proud of. And then the dude went on to be president of the United States. Can only imagine how they felt at that.

So if I am naive for thinking that is different, at a year older than you, than back in the 60’s…then naive I am.

Poeple voted for the president because they felt he was the best man for the job. Jesse Jackson ran for President once and no blacks voted for him. The fact that we have a black president has given racist an excuse to become more vocal in their views. The country is more divided now than it was 4 years ago

Obama’s campaign was the richest campaign in the history of American Presidential Elections. FACT: Money was donated by more whites than Blacks. The support for Obama is for the MAN not the color of his skin. The hatred for him is because he is attached to the liberal party — remember that the last Democrat was nearly impeached. Politics are more messed up than any issues of race right now. Our faulty system is what will bring us down — making race claims is the type of distraction that we can’t afford right now.

Barack got elected by a majority of white people who fell prey to the liberal agenda, based on Bush-bashing and false claims of “hope & change”. That, and severe voting fraud that went denied or broadly unchallenged.

Your argument is falling apart, man. Racism is not nearly as rampant as you’d make it out to be, otherwise, none of the above would have occured.

Here’s a clue: ask the MAN Ice-T what he thinks. You’d be SHOCKED. Rap music has opened the doors of (relative) uniformity between the races over the long term (paraphrasing his words). He said it just today.

Yes, racism is still out there, but it’s not NEARLY what you claim it to be. Barack’s election as president is proof-positive of as much.

2 of my favorite guys are really disappointing me right now. You guys are doubling down on your views instead of trying to understand and respect each other. The middle passage and holocaust were beyond comprehension but to use them to say we had it worse than you has disgusted me.

I am out for today and I hope you guys are back to your awesome selves tomorrow

Markeyh, I understand where you are coming from, I’m Hispanic and have been harassed by white cops just for walking down a street but to say things are as bad as they were or worse than they were in the 50’s or 60’s is really off, like another reality off. There are way too many civil rights groups that have changed things for the better and life for minorities is a lot better today then it was back then. Are things perfect? far from it? is racism and bigotry still around, definitely, but life for minorities is better than it was in the 50’s and 60’s.

Now, if you were to ask me if all these civil rights groups had not come about would things be as improved as they are? Then I would say no, racism is and will always be in our society, it’s almost in our nature to hate or dislike what is different.

Barack is a NOBODY who came out of nowhere. He’s a frosh who hasn’t done ANYTHING noteworthy to have made him worthy of the presidency. Yet, racism is just SO overwhelming and it’s the worst it’s ever been.

Let me tell you something. Black America is ANGRY with Barack right now while White America continues to sing his praises (unless you are a Conservative like Rush Limbaugh, of COURSE).

If you lived in my town or my other home state, you would know 1000s of white racists who are incensed that Obama was elected president of THEIR country and they will twist everything he does to discredit him. (I don’t think he is perfect, but the disgusting attacks on his wife for example are racist and evil and lower my respect for those who stoop so low.)

A lot of Blacks vote for Obama because they wanted to have a Black President. Like I said it is truly understandable. In fact I never even though in my lifetime I would see a Black President. And after being set up like he has by the republicans I can assure you I will not see another.

That’s a thought that’s ill-conceived. Judge a man on his/her character, not on his/her skin color. Barack is a dope who deceived the world. Judge him (I dislike using the word “judge”) on his character, not his skin color. SMH

I wish Condoleeza Rice would run. Her brain is VERY attractive to me, and she’s a VERY positive person.

The fact that you and others so disrespect our sitting President is all I need to know from you. Agree or disagree with his policies ok, but to call him a dope and disrespect him like you do speaks volumes of you IMO.

You took my comment as racial? Well that was not my intent it was more about showing RESPECT for the President and to use the same weak talking point that “The left did the EXACT same thing to Bush” is so over used. Two wrongs never make a right.

That all depends on the are in America of which you speak. Many people are prejudiced against Jews, and Blacks, without having any good reason other than it is passed down from generation to generation.

In the bigger cities in the North East, there isn’t any problem for Jews, because there is enough of a population.

In other regions across the US, I’m sure it’s not quite the same. Fact is, Jews are in the minority, population wise across the world, and there still burns a hatred for them from many nations, and ethnicities. There are people who feel Jews have no reason to exist, and there are many skinhead factions that would love to do the same as Hitler, and rid the world of all the Jews.

Don’t be naive yourself Markey. Black people who are qualified for a job, will have just good a chance as getting a job, or better than a white person, due to certain quotas that are present.

I will say this and then sign off for the day so as to not get drawn into this like a moth to the light:

I would not ever think that race relations are by any means perfect and not without significant issues and problems that need to be fixed. There is no doubt still great inequalities that exist. However, there is no doubt that racial relations have improved significantly since the 50s and 60s. There are numerous ways to measure that but to me the most telling way I see it is in my children. I am white and have grown up and lived in largley white communities all my life. I remember my parents and other family members always referring to blacks in ways that we find discriminatory today. I also remember being aware of feeling that the few black children in my school were some how different than the white students. The other day my 9 year son was telling me about another student who just moved into town. He seemed to have hit it off and were becoming friends. I finally got a chance to meet the child. He was black. My son never said anything about that not that he should have to. But my point is it never mattered to my son. He never saw this child as different. He was just another student at his school. In just one generation I have seen many of the prejudices that my parents and even that I myself probably held as further removed and no longer there. Racisim won’t go away over night but with each generation I do believe it is getting better.

Why do they exist is the real question, why is there a need for them and there truly is a need. The day they are eradicated due to the proper balance and not some angry folks is when sufficient progress will have been made.

That I totally agree with. No question about that. The mere need for them indicates there is a problem, which I will NEVER argue. I know it. But the fact that they exist is also a remedy to the problem, rather than leaving it be. Yes, the day when we no longer need the Rooney Rule in football, where a Black Coach can just get an interview without that rule, will be a blessed day, and when affirmative action is gone for the same reason, it will be a blessed day as well, but do understand that do somewhat remedy the inequities.

Affirmative action is a joke. For 200 years a white CEO has hired other whites based on the color of their skin. To say that blacks have an advantage is laughable. I am on a board that hires in the medical field and i can not tell you how many times a Shaneka with a better resume has been disreguarded for a Becky because of their names alone. Giving anyone an advantage because of the color of their skin is wrong and that is given to Whites not Blacks in this country and forcing a CEO to hire a black every blue moon does not solve anything

You CAN’T paint with a broad brush. There’s a rhyme and reason for everything, Bro. Enough with this philosophical discussion… let’s get back to where it started from you:

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Markeyh
June 13, 2012 at 8:33 am

I honestly have come to the conclusion that some folks have other issues against Ochocinco and it has to do with his skin color…..
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Ocho has done rather well for himself and is loved by MANY of EVERY color under the rainbow, hence his following. He’s an OUTSTANDING human being. Why turn this into a racial discussion when there is nothing to see there? Yo’ stats ain’t backin’ up yo’ claims, brah.

He’s so loved by “White America” that he was on DWTS and was EMBRASED!!! HUGE SUCCESS!!!

You are disappointing me, Markeyh. We’ve fought HARD to get this far, and now you want to claim that black folk are still held back/owned by racism? Only if one let’s it. It’s a new day, brah.

These are the big issues that arise from bringing race into the equation, at least from my perspective.

Markeyh, per your response to Mike, you basically said you think 70% of Dolphins fans that don’t want Johnson here don’t want him because they’re racist? To me that is crazy but I understand why you think that way. Black folks deal with racism EVERY SINGLE day. It is a fact whether people realize it or not. Every day a black person will be confronted with it on one level or another if they are out in the world of America. EVERY DAY.

Most white folks don’t realize the accuracy of that statement. They figure since there have been positive steps towards equality and they themselves are good-hearted and try to value people as people they can’t see how so many others don’t view race the same way. Because they deal with it every day black folk also have a tendency to see racism where it doesn’t exist and all they see is white folk denying what they live every day. It’s only natural to overreact and see it like that. How could you not when it really does exist to such a real extent?

This is where the whole “walk a mile in my shoes” comes into play. For most white folk it is inconceivable that all these people see racism in everything because they don’t deal with it the same way black folk do. Therefore when they see a black person crying racism and it is apparent to them it is overblown it gets put down as “playing the race card”.

From the white perspective, most people hate getting lumped into the racist category just because they are white and are quick to point out “I am not racist”, myself included. In all honesty I believe this comes from the fact that some black folk counter punch white folk for being white before even knowing them. I deal with this all the time. I have black customers who are flat out rude to me in my job, no matter how polite I am, until we start to get to know each other then they realize I’m “cool” and they let their guard down. I always try to understand but it isn’t always easy. It’s very easy to think “you deal with racism all the time yet you’re doing the same thing to me right now but again, I haven’t lived your life.”

There is such a huge disconnect between the lives most people of different colors live and the understanding of such that neither side can see it from the other point of view so we get overreactions from both sides.

Anyway, that is just the perspective of a white man in California. Just thought I’d throw my 2 cents in.

That is an excellent post, and I agree that I probably can’t ever empathize with someone who is black properly as a white person.

Now again, I have seen prejudiced against Jews in the very same manner. I have been with people who had a preconceived notion of what Jewish people are like before even seeing one in person. I have seen that first hand. Nonetheless, it’s not on the scale that black people have to deal with, and therefore I can’t truly grasp the concept.

I do, however think things have a come a long, yet still have a long way to go. Progress is most certainly being made. I know my kids have no prejudices to ANY race or religion, because they simply don’t learn that type of thing at home. If this continues family to family, and generation to generation, things will continue to improve.

I am talking from my PERSONAL LIFE experience on race. I am also well liked by a lot of white people. In fact if any of you were to ever meet me you will see why.

But I also have face racism in this city that’s done a lot of damage. That is why I started my own business to try and have better control of my destiny than to work for the many racist that exist here in Milwaukee and the unemployment numbers do not lie over 52-55% unemployment among black males…

When I had contracts to rebuild Lambeau Field I actually had some white workers (avid Packers Fans) tell me to my face the will not work for a N—er!

I have been pulled over for “Driving Black” I went last month to Fort McCoy To look at a job we were going to bid and was told nicely by the White Officer who checked us in to be careful driving up there because “sorry to say” they profile black guys up there.

I can write a book because as I said I am too black to be white (skin color) and to white to be black ( I am very articulate and considered by many as very smart) present company excluded It’s just how I come across to many folks….

Tannehill seems to be doing just as well as I thought he would. Just remember one thing, all of you Tannehill people. When he flops, don’t blame Ireland. You wanted your first round quarterback at any cost and you’ve got him.

Markyh – I’ve been reading all the back and forth about 85 and the statement you pulled out of thin air – paraphrase – people don’t like him because he’s black or words to that effect. I think what everyone is trying to say is why would you say something like that about one man out of the thousands playing professional sports? I’ve personally never read a statement on this or any other Dolphin site where someone made such a statement – maybe I just missed it but I don’t think so. My guess is you decided to make a political/racial stand on this issue so you could pull the race card. My friend, I would venture to say the overwhelming majority of -sports fans in general- FIN FANS do not care what the color of a mans skin is as long as he can help the Miami Dolphins win games. I don’t think I am alone on this. To those of us who live in the real world – it is a fact raceism is unfortunately a fact of life and we recognize that but it swings both ways – in fact the statement you made could be considered racist by accusing white fans of not liking 85 because he’s black when you have presented no real evidence to support your claim.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More